The Eiger’s great North Face is seen to good effect from the pastures leading to Männlichen
| Start | Grindelwald (1034m) |
| Distance | 9km (one way) |
| Height gain | 1400m |
| Height loss | 91m |
| Grade | 2 |
| Time | 4½–5hrs |
| Location | West of Grindelwald |
Grindelwald’s great basin of pastureland is contained in the west by a ridge that extends northward from the Kleine Scheidegg saddle. On the Grindelwald slope this ridge sweeps down in meadows, but on its western side a barrier of cliffs plunges dramatically to the mid-height terrace of Wengen before dropping again into the depths of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. This ridge then, effectively divides the valleys of the Weisse Lütschine and the Schwarze Lütschine, and at its northern extremity rises to the minor summit of Männlichen, a noted viewpoint. Below it cableways and ski tows rise to a large hotel and restaurant. The gondola lift that comes from Grindelwald is claimed to be the longest in Europe (6.2km and 1200m altitude difference) and takes about 30mins for the journey. But there are other, pedestrian, ways to reach Männlichen, of course, that will take much longer, and give plenty of opportunities to admire the great Eiger Nordwand rising from the pastures – a face that is never seen better than from this walk.
Leave Grindelwald and descend to the railway station at Grund. Cross the railway line and the river beyond it, and turn right. Passing the Eigernordwand campsite go left at a fork by a ski lift. The narrow service road rises among pastures and a number of attractive chalets, and although it would be possible to follow this all the way to the Männlichen hotel, clearly marked footpaths break from it, go through patches of woodland and across meadows, rising all the time – sometimes quite steeply. It’s unnecessary to give precise directions because of the options available, and the generous amount of signposts at junctions. But as you progress up the hillside, so fine views left show the North Face of the Eiger soaring above the pastures. Look back too, to see the graceful Schreckhorn to the southeast. The main path veers towards the line of the gondola lift, then up the slope parallel to it.
The Eiger’s great North Face is seen to good effect from the pastures leading to Männlichen
Once you arrive at the Männlichen hotel (footpaths converge here), bear right and wander along the ridge path to the modest summit (20mins from the hotel). A glorious view looks steeply down to Lauterbrunnen’s almost gorge-like valley, and up to the Jungfrau and a long line of snowpeaks dazzling from the south. To return to Grindelwald, either ride the gondola, follow Route 27 to Kleine Scheidegg for the train, or Route 28 for a 3hr walk back via Alpiglen.